KELP INVENTORY 2007 - British Columbia · KELP INVENTORY, 2007 AREAS OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRAL COAST FROM HAKAI PASSAGE TO THE BARDSWELL GROUP Prepared by I. R. Sutherland IEC

Kelp Inventory, 2007

Areas of the British Columbia Central Coast from Hakai Passage

to the Bardswell Group

I. R. Sutherland IEC Collaborative Marine Research and Development Ltd.

V. Karpouzi M. Mamoser B. Carswell B.C. Ministry of Environment

Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch

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KELP INVENTORY, 2007

AREAS OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRAL COAST FROM HAKAI PASSAGE

TO THE BARDSWELL GROUP

Prepared by

I. R. Sutherland IEC Collaborative Marine Research

and Development Ltd. and

V. Karpouzi M. Mamoser B. Carswell

B.C. Ministry of Environment

for

Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch, B.C. Ministry of Environment Fisheries and Oceans Canada

B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Heiltsuk Tribal Council

December, 2008

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ABSTRACT

A modification of the Kelp Inventory Method (KIM-1) developed by Foreman

(1975) was used to estimate the total standing crop biomass and kelp bed area of

Nereocystis luetkeana and Macrocystis integrifolia along portions of the Central Coast of

British Columbia from Hakai Passage to the Bardswell Group for August/ September,

2007. Colour infrared photography and digital mapping of kelp polygons directly from

georeferenced digital images were used for the first time. Results estimated that 7,082

tonnes of N. luetkeana, 27,695 tonnes of M. integrifolia and 2,513 tonnes of N. luetkeana

and M. integrifolia in mixed beds were present. Total bed surface areas of N. luetkeana,

M. integrifolia and mixed beds were estimated to be 278.9, 786.8 and 82.0 hectares,

respectively. Nine maps are presented which show the position, extent, species, and

density of every discernible kelp bed within the survey area. For management purposes

the area is divided into numbered, kilometer-wide blocks.

Results of the 2007 inventory are compared with 1993 inventory estimates for

areas common to both. Information on bed area, biomass and species composition in

1993 and 2007 are presented in tabular and graphic formats and discussed.

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INTRODUCTION

Nereocystis luetkeana (Mertens) Postels and Ruprecht, commonly called bull

kelp, and Macrocystis integrifolia Bory, or giant kelp, are large, canopy-forming kelp

species that are found in beds along extensive portions of the British Columbia coast.

Beginning in 1975, the Provincial Government undertook a program to locate and

quantify the standing crop of these economically important kelps using the Kelp

Inventory Method (KIM-1) developed by Foreman (1975). The method in its basic form

combines bed area, density and species information taken from infrared aerial

photographs with field-determined information on bed structure and plant weight to

provide species-specific biomass estimates for each kilometer-wide section of coastline

within a survey area. The method has been used to inventory major kelp stocks

throughout the province as shown in Figure 1 (Coon, 1981; Coon et al, 1976, 1979,

1980, 1981, 1982; Field, 1996; Field et al, 1977, 1978; Sutherland, 1989, 1990, 1996,

1998).

The main use of marine plants in British Columbia is for the herring Spawn-on-

Kelp industry; in 2007, of 53 marine plant harvesting licenses were issued in the

province, 22 of these were issued for the harvest of M. integrifolia for this purpose and

300.1 Metric tonnes were landed. Additional licenses were issued for other species

including N. luetkeana, Laminaria spp., Alaria marginata, Porphyra spp., Fucus gardneri,

and Salicornia spp., which were either processed into dried and fresh products for

human consumption or manufactured into cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizer.

Accurate and comprehensive data on the standing crop of kelp in British Columbia

provide a basis for allocating these resources through licensing and for establishing area

specific harvest quotas

The present report contains the results of a 2007 survey of portions of the Hakai

Passage to the Bardswell Group on the Central Coast of British Columbia undertaken

jointly by the Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch (OMFB) of the B.C. Ministry of

Environment (MOE), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the B.C. Ministry of

Agriculture and Lands (MAL), and the Heiltsuk Tribal Council. The survey covered the

same coastal areas that were previously surveyed in 1993 and described by Field (1996;

see Figure 1). The 2007 survey is intended to provide recent kelp bed area and biomass

data for the survey region and also allows comparison with the 1993 results. In the 14

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years that have elapsed between surveys, the local stands of large kelp have been

affected by seasonal and annual variation, longer-term changes, and small and large

scale biological and oceanic events.

Kelp beds are important to other marine species and kelp inventory maps and

data will be of value to those preparing environmental impact statements or conducting

surveys for herring spawn, abalone, sea urchins, sea otters and other species. The

present inventory is also expected to be of aid in management issues for the Heiltsuk

Band and the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy Area.

Kelp inventory data, results and maps now form a component of the British

Columbia Coastal Resource Information Management System

(http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/cis/coastal/others/crimsindex.htm), a digital database that

includes a wide variety of coast and marine resources such as aquaculture, shoreline

classification, selected fisheries information and offshore oil and gas information.

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Figure 1. Map of the British Columbia coast showing locations of kelp inventories undertaken between 1975 and 2007. The legend

indicates files of the inventory available through the Ministry of Environment website at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/fisheries/commercial/Historical_Kelp_Inventory.htm#REPORTS

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

The KIM-1 technique uses aerial photography in combination with field sampling

data to produce kelp bed maps and estimates of kelp bed areas and biomass. While the

basis of the KIM-1 method has remained the same, certain steps have changed through

time to improve accuracy and/or decrease the fieldwork component as well as to take

advantage of new technologies such as digital photography and mapping. Modifications

of this method as stated by Coon et al (1976), Field (1996), Field et al (1977), Field

(1996) and Sutherland (1989, 1990 and 1996) were used in this study. In the 2007

inventory, colour infrared photography and digital mapping of kelp polygons directly from

georeferenced digital images have been incorporated for the first time.

Aerial Photography and Mapping

Previously, the KIM-1 technique involved obtaining 24 cm format, 1:7,200 scale,

black and white, infrared aerial photography of the kelp bed and shoreline in the desired

region. Charts of the coastline and the offshore kelp beds were made by tracing on to

Mylar film directly from the black and white IR negatives. For the present inventory,

colour infrared aerial photography was undertaken of the area by Hauts-Monts Inc.

under contract to Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch in August and September, 2007

at the same scale. The images were scanned to digital form, georeferenced and kelp

beds were traced using geographic information system (GIS) software directly from the

digitized aerial photographs (for details of methods used in digital aerial photo

interpretation, kelp bed mapping and Nereocystis density evaluation see Appendix I).

With initial assistance in air photo interpretation of the kelp beds and

methodologies from IEC Collaborative Marine Research and Development Ltd. (IEC)

under contract, OMFB staff continued with the interpretation, developed methods to

integrate the digital photography and map kelp bed polygons, placed the statistical

kilometer blocks, calculated the areas of kelp bed polygons, obtained Nereocystis

densities from the photography and produced digital data files and maps of the inventory

areas (see Appendix I for methods). The Ministry provided the field data and the maps

and data derived from the aerial photographs to IEC who completed the data analysis for

the inventory and produced the present report.

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The kelp bed maps produced from the photographs are divided to sections, or

blocks, that are 1 kilometer in width along the shore for statistical purposes. Kelp bed

surface area data for each statistical kilometer block is derived from these maps for six

bed types on the basis of:

a) species - Macrocystis or Nereocystis or mixed (considered to be 42% Nereocystis

and 58% Macrocystis; Foreman, 1975); and

b) plant or frond density - low density (less than 10 plants or fronds per 10 square

meters) or high (10 or greater plants or fronds per 10 square meters).

Nereocystis Density

Density for Nereocystis for the tide level at the time of photography (ideally at a

tide height of Mean Water Level + 0.6 meters for the KIM-1 method and as was the case

for the present inventory) was determined from the aerial photographs by the KIM-1

point intercept method (Foreman, 1975) adapted for digital techniques (see Appendix I).

Nereocystis beds are made up of plants of varying lengths and so the density of

Nereocystis plants visible on the surface at the time of photography varies with tide

height. In order to relate density data from the photos to other levels a conversion factor

based on the vertical distribution of plants in field samples has been used. This data was

not available for the present Inventory and an average conversion factor was used as

employed in the 1993 inventory for the area (Field, 1996; the average was calculated

from field data from previous inventories ranging from Vancouver Island to the Queen

Charlotte Islands as shown in Table 1). The conversion factor was used as follows:

Total (bottom) Density = Density at Mean Water Level x 1.13

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Table 1. Nereocystis density conversion factors from previous inventory work in northern British Columbia and the average value calculated and used in the present report to convert density at MWL to total or bottom density.

Inventory Area and Source

Conversion Factor

Northern Vancouver Island (Coon et al., 1981) 1.05 NE Vancouver Island and Malcolm Island (Sutherland, 1990) 1.12 Estevan Group and Campania Island (Field et al., 1977) 1.27 Goschen Is. to Tree Nob Group (exposed; Coon et al., 1980) 1.15 Goschen Is. to Tree Nob Group (sheltered; Coon et al., 1980) 1.11 Dundas Group (exposed; Field et al., 1978) 1.15 North and West Graham Island, QCI (Coon et al., 1981) 1.04 1.13

Field Sampling

Near the time of year that the beds were photographed, field crews obtained

samples of kelp from the inventory area to determine mean weight per plant

(Nereocystis) or frond (Macrocystis) and recorded numbers of plants along transects on

the sea floor to determine density for Macrocystis. Under contract to the Heiltsuk Tribal

Council and the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy Area and at the direction of T. Norgard

field data was collected in August, 2007 by, K. Cripps, D. Paltzat, R. Wilson and S.

Humchitt (see Appendix II for field survey report including methods). The field sampling

records of the locations of sample stations and species sampled are invaluable as an aid

in identification or confirmation of the species during later interpretation of aerial

photography.

Nereocystis

In this inventory, wet weight was determined for whole Nereocystis plants as they

were sampled at randomly located stations in the survey area. The mean biomass per

plant statistic for Nereocystis used in subsequent calculations is derived from the mean

of sample station means of wet weight per plant.

Macrocystis

Wet weight was also determined for whole Macrocystis fronds from samples at

randomly located stations in the survey area. The mean biomass per frond value

reported for Macrocystis is the mean of the sample stations means.

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In the KIM-1 method, Macrocystis density was derived using the point intercept

method similar to that presently used for Nereocystis. Beginning in 1982, as a result of

perceived underestimation of Macrocystis biomass by the KIM-1 technique, densities for

this species have been estimated from counts by SCUBA divers of the numbers of

fronds found within one meter on either side of randomly established 40 meter long

transects on the bottom. This provides frond numbers from 80 square meter sections of

the sea bottom at each sample station. Macrocystis density in this inventory was

determined in the field from such counts in the vicinity of biomass sampling stations. The

average Macrocystis density value determined from field transects was applied to all

Macrocystis bed areas. High and low density Macrocystis beds have been kept separate

on the charts and in area measurements, however, to provide detail as presented in

previous inventories.

Mixed Nereocystis and Macrocystis

Changes to the method described above have required modification of the

method used to calculate mixed bed biomass. Total mixed bed biomass per hectare for

each kilometer block has been calculated as follows:

Mean biomass Mean biomass Mean biomass per hectare of = 0.42 X per ha. of + 0.58 X per ha. of

low or high density mixed kelp

low or high Nereocystis

Macrocystis

The 0.42 and 0.58 values in the equation are derived from the ratio found to

occur in samples used in development of the KIM-1 method (Foreman, 1975). Low or

high density is not considered for the Macrocystis portion of the calculation.

Data obtained from the aerial photography is combined with field sampling data to

produce biomass estimates. Kelp biomass was determined by multiplying the mean

weight per plant or frond values by the plant or frond densities at the sea bottom and

multiplying this product by the observed bed areas. All biomass estimates in this report

are of total standing crop.

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RESULTS

Aerial Photography and Tidal Data

Kelp bed area for all bed types and density estimates for Nereocystis provided in

this report are based on the aerial photography for the inventory area which was flown

between 12:50 and 15:20 on August 22, 2007 and between 13:31 and 14:18 on

September 8, 2007 (Pacific Standard Time). Approximately half of the photography was

found to be within the desired 10:00 to 14:00 range that provides proper sun angles for

best IR picture quality and to minimize reflected glare. (Roll: 30BCF07060; Base Map

Online Store at Province of British Columbia website

http://openmaps.gov.bc.ca/imfows13/imf.jsp?site=idt). Some glare from waves was

noted in the photography but by using non-glare areas of images, interpretation was

possible (comm. with MOE staff). Port Hardy weather (Port Hardy is 120 km south of the

inventory area) showed clear/ cloud/ fog with light winds on August 22, 2007 and mainly

clear with moderate winds on September 8, 2007 (Environment Canada website

historical data http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climateData/canada_e.html).

Observed water levels from the tidal gauges at Bella Bella, the nearest port from

the Integrated Science Data Management, DFO, were corrected to the inventory areas

using the secondary port of Gosling Island (http://www-sci.pac.dfo-

mpo.gc.ca/charts/tides/owl_e.htm). Tidal height at the time of photography was found to

be within the MWL +0.6 meter KIM-1 tidal range.

Inventory Areas and Statistical Block Locations

Figure 2 indicates the locations of statistical blocks in the inventory area.

Placement of the kilometer wide blocks has been kept the same as the 1993 inventory

layout to aid in comparison but block numbers have been given a letter prefix (a to f) to

more easily indicate the geographic area. As in 1993, the inventory area has been

divided to six geographic areas. Disposition of kelp beds within the areas is illustrated on

9 maps which can be found in Appendix III. The six geographic areas and map layout

are as follows:

a) Hakai Passage and Stirling Island: Waters along the north side of Hakai Passage off

southern Nalau and Stirling Islands; Eastern Stirling Island; around Underhill Island

including Edward and Ward Channels; and Turnbull Inlet; 2 maps: one covers the

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eastern portion (Hakai Passage map) and one covers the western portion (Stirling

Island map).

b) Cultus Sound: Waters along both shores of Cultus Sound from Superstition Ledge to

the mouth of Kinsmen Inlet; 1 map covers the area.

c) Goose Group: Waters surrounding The Goose Group from Currie Islet in the south to

Weyburn Rock in the north; 2 maps: one covers the northern portion (Goose Group

North map) and one covers the southern portion (Goose Group South map).

d) McMullin Group: Waters within the McMullin Group and northwards almost to Tuft

Islands; 1 map covers the area.

e) Thompson Bay: Waters from the Tuft Islands off Stryker Island in the south, north

along the east side of Thompson Bay to mid Gale Passage; 2 maps: one covers the

northern portion (Thompson Bay North) and one covers the southern portion

(Thompson Bay South).

f) Bardswell Group: Waters off the Southwest end of Athlone Island and surrounding

Wurtele Island from Godfrey Rock to Townsend Point; 1 map covers the area.

Note that in the 1993 inventory (Field, 1996), certain statistical blocks on the

Cultus Sound and Thompson Bay maps were given temporary numbers, shown in

brackets. The areas covered in the 2007 inventory are very similar to the 1993 inventory,

these blocks have retained the temporary numbers in the present inventory but a letter

prefix has been added to indicate the location for 2007. It is anticipated that inventories

in the future, if they include waters beyond the limits of the current inventories, will

assign suitable permanent numbers to these blocks. Differences in coverage did occur

between inventories; the 1993 inventory included 136 statistical kilometer blocks and the

2007 inventory includes 130. The 2007 inventory is missing 7 statistical blocks (a6, c16,

e4, e6, e7, e20 and f23) and a small portion of one block (e19) that were covered in

1993, and includes one block that was absent in 1993 (e(3); note that the 2007 labeling

scheme is used). There are 128 statistical blocks that are common to both reports.

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Figure 2. Map of the Hakai Passage to Bardswell Group areas inventoried for floating

kelp resources in 2007 showing the layout of statistical blocks and map sheets.

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Mean Biomass per Plant or Frond and Density

Sample station locations are shown in Appendix II (Figure 1 of Appendix II). All

stations were used in calculations as being representative of the region although a

number were not directly within the inventory area. Table 2 presents the field-determined

mean biomass per plant and frond estimates obtained from means of 29 Nereocystis

and 39 Macrocystis sampling station means.

Table 2. Nereocystis mean biomass per plant and Macrocystis mean biomass per frond values (total wet weight) derived from August, 2007 field samples.

_______________________________________________________________

Nereocystis mean biomass/plant (n=29 stations): 1.98 kg. SD = 1.16 396 plants sampled

Macrocystis mean biomass/frond (n=39 stations): 0.79 kg. SD = 0.34 822 fronds sampled ________________________________________________________________

Table 3. Field determined Macrocystis bed density value derived from August, 2007 counts along underwater transects.

________________________________________________________________

Mean no. of fronds/ sq. m. (n=39 stations): 4.45/ sq. m. SD = 2.88 3,120 sq. m. counted ________________________________________________________________

A total of 396 Nereocystis plants and 882 Macrocystis fronds were sampled at

these stations from August 22 to 30, 2007. Considerable variability exists between

stations. Maximum and minimum station mean biomass values were 4.95 kg. (at south

Goose Island) and 0.54 kg. (at Stryker Island between Hakai Passage and Cultus

Sound) per Nereocystis plant and 1.45 kg. (at west Goose Island) and 0.16 kg. (in the

Breadner Group between Hakai Passage and Cultus Sound areas) per Macrocystis

frond. The highest Nereocystis mean plant weights were found around Goose Island, the

Bardswell Group and McMullin Island; the highest Macrocystis mean plant weights were

found around Goose Island, McNaughton Group (just North of Cultus Sound) and

Thompson Bay.

The Macrocystis mean density value (see Table 3) was derived from transect

counts performed at the same locations as the Macrocystis biomass samples were

taken. The standard error value of 0.46 fronds per square meter represents 10% of the

mean and falls within the 20% criterion established for the method (Sutherland, 1990).

13,895 Macrocystis fronds were counted on 3,120 square meters of bottom over the 39

stations. Maximum and minimum mean station densities from Macrocystis transects

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were 11.95 (at Spider Island between Hakai Passage and Cultus Sound) and 0 fronds

per square meter (in Cultus Sound; it was noted that Macrocystis was present but

wrapped in Nereocystis plants at the station). North Goose Island and Thompson Bay

also had frond densities of over 10 per square meter.

Densities of Bull kelp beds were obtained using the standard KIM-1 point-

intercept count method using aerial photography (Foreman, 1975; with supplementary

regression developed by Foreman and Cabot in 1979) as adapted for use with digital

methods (see Appendix I). As has been standard in application of the KIM-1 method to

areas with little Nereocystis or with small beds of the species, it was often necessary to

combine counts for adjacent or nearby blocks in order to obtain a minimum acceptable

number of 10 counts for each Nereocystis density category (low or high).

In the 1993 inventory there were few counts possible in areas other than the

Goose and McMullin Groups and low and high Nereocystis densities were calculated

from combined Goose Group and McMullin Group data and applied to other areas. In

2007, fewer counts of Nereocystis density were possible than in 1993 in the McMullin

Group and the Goose Group counts alone were used in the same manner for areas with

too few counts. Calculations used the method described in Field (1996; for each of low

and high Nereocystis categories, the total biomass in tonnes was divided by the total

bed area in hectares, then divided by the mean biomass per plant in kg and multiplied by

1,000 to produce the overall mean bottom density per hectare). For 2007, this method

was applied to all other areas than the Goose Group for low density Nereocystis; and to

Cultus Sound, McMullin Group and Thompson Bay for high density Nereocystis.

Tables 4 through 9 present estimates of kelp bed density, area and biomass for

bed types within each block of the six geographic inventory areas as follows:

Table 4: Hakai Passage and Stirling Island;

Table 5: Cultus Sound;

Table 6: Goose Group;

Table 7: McMullin Group;

Table 8: Thompson Bay; and

Table 9: Bardswell Group.

Table 10 summarizes the biomass and kelp bed area estimates for each

geographic area by kelp species/density category and for the entire 2007 inventory area.

Table 11 summarizes the bed area and biomass estimates for Nereocystis, Macrocystis

and Mixed beds and each geographic area. Percent composition of low and high density

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Nereocystis, Macrocystis, mixed and total bed surface area and biomass are shown in

Table 12 and 13, respectively, for each geographic area.

The entire inventory area had an estimated standing stock of 37,289.2 tonnes of

kelp in 1,147.69 hectares over its 130 statistical kilometer blocks. Of this, 7,082.0 tonnes

(19% of biomass) was pure Nereocystis in 278.92 hectares (24% of beds), 27,694.5

tonnes (74%) was pure Macrocystis in 786.78 hectares (69% of beds) and 2,512.7

tonnes (7%) in 81.99 hectares (7%) was in mixed beds. Macrocystis made up most of

the kelp bed area and biomass within each inventory area except the Hakai

Passage/Stirling Island area where there was little of the species noted. The distribution

of kelp varied considerably both between and within the inventory areas:

The Hakai Passage/Stirling Island inventory area had an estimated standing

stock of 1,996.9 tonnes of kelp in 69.22 hectares over its 29 statistical kilometer blocks.

The kelp was approximately 98% Nereocystis by bed area, spread in fringing beds

running along shore or reefs, mainly along the south and western shores of the area.

Macrocystis and mixed kelp were in small beds mainly near the west shore of Stirling

Island.

The Cultus Sound survey area had an estimated standing stock of 1,385.5

tonnes of kelp in 43.15 hectares over its 16 statistical kilometer blocks. In the area, small

fringing beds, mainly less than one hectare in size were approximately 74% Macrocystis

by bed area. Nereocystis was found mainly in the western reaches of the survey area

while Macrocystis and a small amount of mixed kelp were in the more sheltered areas

within the Sound.

The Goose Group was the largest area surveyed and had more kelp than the

other areas combined, with an estimated standing stock of 21,095.8 tonnes of kelp in

646.57 hectares over its 40 statistical kilometer blocks. Kelp was found in extensive

beds in the Goose Group, mainly on the western and southern portions of the survey

area, with up to 44 hectares within one statistical kilometer block. Smaller, fringing beds

were found on the eastern shore of Goose Island. Approximately 22% of the kelp bed

area was Nereocystis, 69% was Macrocystis and 9% was mixed kelp; Nereocystis was

found mainly in outer regions along the west and south portions of the area.

The McMullin Group survey area had an estimated standing stock of 7,573.0

tonnes of kelp in 221.49 hectares over its 11 statistical kilometer blocks. Kelp was found

in extensive beds in the McMullin Group with up to over 50 hectares within one statistical

kilometer block. Approximately 88% of the kelp bed area in the McMullin Group was

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Macrocystis; small beds of Nereocystis (approximately 8% by bed area) were found in

outer parts of the survey area.

The Thompson Bay survey area had an estimated standing stock of 3,042.6

tonnes of kelp in 91.27 hectares over its 20 statistical kilometer blocks. Fringing beds of

mainly Macrocystis (approximately 82% of bed area) extended through the survey area.

Several statistical blocks in Thompson Bay that were covered by the 1993 survey were

not available in the 2007 photography.

The Bardswell Group survey area had an estimated standing stock of 2,195.4

tonnes of kelp in 75.99 hectares over its 14 statistical kilometer blocks. Kelp beds were

moderate in size and spread along the outer portions of the survey area. Beds were

generally not found in the surveyed portions of the channel behind Wurtele Island.

Approximately 43% of the kelp bed area was Nereocystis, 51% was Macrocystis and 6%

was mixed kelp. Although both species were spread through the area, Macrocystis was

found largely in the southern and southwestern portions.

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Table 4: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the Hakai Passage and Stirling Island inventory area for August 22, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)

Nereocystis - Low Density Nereocystis - High Density Macrocystis Mixed - Low Density Mixed - High Density Total Total

Low d High d Total

Stat. Photo. Bottom Area Mean Photo. Bottom Area Mean Bottom Area Area Area Mean Area Mean Area Mean Area B

Block D D (ha) B/ha B D D (ha) B/ha B D (ha) (ha) (ha) B/ha B (ha) B/ha B (ha) B/ha B (ha) (tonnes)

a1 6,600 7,500 0.19 14.9 2.8 15,100 17,100 0.69 33.9 23.4 0.05 34.6 1.7 0.93 27.9

a2 6,600 7,500 0.36 14.9 5.3 15,100 17,100 0.50 33.9 16.9 0.86 22.2

a3 6,600 7,500 0.29 14.9 4.3 15,100 17,100 0.94 33.9 31.8 44,500 0.03 0.00 0.03 35.2 1.1 1.26 37.2

a4 6,600 7,500 0.25 14.9 3.7 15,100 17,100 0.37 33.9 12.5 0.62 16.2

a5 6,600 7,500 0.09 14.9 1.3 15,100 17,100 1.17 33.9 39.6 44,500 0.00 0.03 0.03 35.2 1.1 1.29 42.0

a7 6,600 7,500 0.01 14.9 0.1 0.01 0.1

a8 6,600 7,500 0.02 14.9 0.3 0.02 0.3

a9 6,600 7,500 0.05 14.9 0.7 0.05 0.7

a10 6,600 7,500 0.05 14.9 0.7 0.05 0.7

a11 6,600 7,500 0.11 14.9 1.6 15,100 17,100 0.05 33.9 1.7 0.16 3.3

a12 6,600 7,500 0.18 14.9 2.7 0.18 2.7

a13 6,600 7,500 0.88 14.9 13.1 15,100 17,100 1.17 33.9 39.6 2.05 52.7

a14 6,600 7,500 1.14 14.9 16.9 15,100 17,100 4.61 33.9 156.1 5.75 173.0

a15 6,600 7,500 0.29 14.9 4.3 15,100 17,100 3.40 33.9 115.1 44,500 0.00 0.03 0.03 35.2 1.1 3.72 120.5

a16 6,600 7,500 2.87 14.9 42.6 15,100 17,100 3.74 33.9 126.6 6.61 169.2

a17 6,600 7,500 0.72 14.9 10.7 15,100 17,100 0.95 33.9 32.2 1.67 42.9

a18 6,600 7,500 0.19 14.9 2.8 15,100 17,100 0.45 33.9 15.2 0.64 18.0

a19 6,600 7,500 0.69 14.9 10.2 15,100 17,100 1.86 33.9 63.0 2.55 73.2

a20 6,600 7,500 0.11 14.9 1.6 15,100 17,100 2.53 33.9 85.7 2.64 87.3

a21 6,600 7,500 1.01 14.9 15.0 15,100 17,100 3.84 33.9 130.0 0.14 34.6 4.8 4.99 149.8

a22 6,600 7,500 0.76 14.9 11.3 15,100 17,100 4.44 33.9 150.3 5.20 161.6

a23 6,600 7,500 0.20 14.9 3.0 15,100 17,100 1.34 33.9 45.4 1.54 48.4

a24 6,600 7,500 0.17 14.9 2.5 15,100 17,100 1.06 33.9 35.9 1.23 38.4

a25 6,600 7,500 0.38 14.9 5.6 15,100 17,100 1.30 33.9 44.0 1.68 49.6

a26 6,600 7,500 0.54 14.9 8.0 15,100 17,100 0.38 33.9 12.9 0.92 20.9

a27 6,600 7,500 2.43 14.9 36.1 15,100 17,100 7.36 33.9 249.2 0.07 26.7 1.9 0.37 34.6 12.8 10.23 300.0

a28 6,600 7,500 1.73 14.9 25.7 15,100 17,100 3.84 33.9 130.0 44,500 0.03 0.10 0.13 35.2 4.6 5.70 160.3

a29 6,600 7,500 1.85 14.9 27.5 15,100 17,100 2.91 33.9 98.5 44,500 0.00 0.13 0.13 35.2 4.6 4.89 130.6

a30 6,600 7,500 0.70 14.9 10.4 15,100 17,100 0.73 33.9 24.7 44,500 0.33 0.00 0.33 35.2 11.6 1.78 47.2

Totals: 18.26 270.8 49.63 1,680.3 0.39 0.29 0.68 24.1 0.09 2.4 0.56 19.3 69.22 1,996.9

- - 16

Table 5: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the Cultus Sound inventory area for August 22, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)


Low d High d Total



b(1) 6,600 7,500 0.59 14.9 8.8 14,800 16,700 1.16 33.1 38.4 44,500 0.08 0.01 0.09 35.2 3.2 1.84 50.4

b(2) 6,600 7,500 2.13 14.9 31.6 14,800 16,700 1.47 33.1 48.6 3.60 80.2

b(3) 6,600 7,500 0.08 14.9 1.2 14,800 16,700 0.53 33.1 17.5 0.61 18.7

b1 6,600 7,500 0.69 14.9 10.2 14,800 16,700 0.35 33.1 11.6 44,500 1.87 0.54 2.41 35.2 84.8 0.25 26.7 6.7 3.70 113.3

b2 6,600 7,500 0.04 14.9 0.6 14,800 16,700 0.04 33.1 1.3 44,500 0.45 1.05 1.50 35.2 52.8 0.20 26.7 5.3 1.78 60.0

b3 14,800 16,700 0.05 33.1 1.7 44,500 2.82 0.37 3.19 35.2 112.3 3.24 114.0

b4 44,500 0.93 4.20 5.13 35.2 180.6 5.13 180.6

b5 44,500 0.82 2.53 3.35 35.2 117.9 3.35 117.9

b6 6,600 7,500 0.02 14.9 0.3 44,500 3.78 1.22 5.00 35.2 176.0 0.02 26.7 0.5 5.04 176.8

b7 6,600 7,500 0.11 14.9 1.6 44,500 0.30 0.38 0.68 35.2 23.9 0.15 26.7 4.0 0.94 29.5

b16 44,500 0.14 0.00 0.14 35.2 4.9 0.14 4.9

b20 6,600 7,500 0.05 14.9 0.7 44,500 1.81 0.25 2.06 35.2 72.5 2.11 73.2

b21 6,600 7,500 0.17 14.9 2.5 44,500 2.37 1.72 4.09 35.2 144.0 0.34 34.3 11.7 4.60 158.2

b22 6,600 7,500 1.04 14.9 15.4 44,500 2.09 0.18 2.27 35.2 79.9 3.31 95.3

b23 44,500 2.11 0.00 2.11 35.2 74.3 2.11 74.3

b27 6,600 7,500 0.90 14.9 13.4 14,800 16,700 0.75 33.1 24.8 0.00 34.3 0.0 1.65 38.2

Totals: 5.82 86.3 4.35 143.9 19.57 12.45 32.02 1,127.1 0.62 16.5 0.34 11.7 43.15 1,385.5

- - 17 Table 6: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the Goose Group

inventory area for August 22 and September 8, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)


Low d High d Total

Stat. Photo.Bottom Area Mean Photo. Bottom Area Mean Bottom Area Area Area Mean Area Mean Area Mean Area B


c1 5,400 6,100 1.14 12.1 13.8 16,700 18,900 0.41 37.4 15.3 44,500 7.45 2.04 9.49 35.2 334.0 0.28 25.5 7.1 1.40 36.1 50.6 12.72 420.8

c2 5,400 6,100 1.94 12.1 23.4 16,700 18,900 1.44 37.4 53.9 44,500 6.20 15.07 21.27 35.2 748.7 3.26 36.1 117.8 27.91 943.8

c3 5,400 6,100 2.89 12.1 34.9 0.47 36.1 17.0 3.36 51.9

c4 5,200 5,900 2.35 11.7 27.5 16,700 18,900 0.18 37.4 6.7 44,500 4.91 6.05 10.96 35.2 385.8 0.49 25.3 12.4 0.19 36.1 6.9 14.17 439.3

c5 5,200 5,900 2.95 11.7 34.5 16,700 18,900 0.26 37.4 9.7 44,500 15.08 9.81 24.89 35.2 876.1 1.02 25.3 25.8 29.12 946.1

c6 5,200 5,900 13.22 11.7 154.4 16,700 18,900 0.75 37.4 28.1 44,500 8.05 4.57 12.62 35.2 444.2 2.54 25.3 64.3 2.59 36.1 93.6 31.72 784.6

c7 5,900 6,700 3.23 13.3 42.8 16,700 18,900 5.46 37.4 204.3 44,500 18.47 7.83 26.30 35.2 925.8 5.16 26.0 134.1 40.15 1,307.0

c8 6,500 7,300 0.92 14.5 13.3 16,700 18,900 7.42 37.4 277.7 44,500 1.46 0.34 1.80 35.2 63.4 1.28 26.5 33.9 3.47 36.1 125.4 14.89 513.7

c9 7,700 8,700 0.95 17.2 16.4 16,700 18,900 0.46 37.4 17.2 44,500 0.23 0.86 1.09 35.2 38.4 0.97 27.7 26.8 6.11 36.1 220.8 9.58 319.6

c10 7,700 8,700 1.17 17.2 20.2 16,700 18,900 4.49 37.4 168.0 44,500 3.15 13.46 16.61 35.2 584.7 0.78 36.1 28.2 23.05 801.1

c11 7,700 8,700 5.14 17.2 88.5 17,300 19,500 3.04 38.6 117.4 44,500 3.43 32.70 36.13 35.2 1,271.8 44.31 1,477.7

c12 7,200 8,100 1.06 16.0 17.0 13,600 15,400 0.48 30.5 14.6 44,500 3.49 9.38 12.87 35.2 453.0 1.78 27.2 48.3 16.19 532.9

c13 7,300 8,200 1.71 16.2 27.8 13,600 15,400 0.64 30.5 19.5 44,500 2.90 3.72 6.62 35.2 233.0 0.25 27.2 6.8 9.22 287.1

c14 7,100 8,000 0.05 15.8 0.8 13,600 15,400 0.11 30.5 3.4 44,500 0.14 1.41 1.55 35.2 54.6 1.71 58.8

c15 7,400 8,400 3.22 16.6 53.6 13,600 15,400 6.16 30.5 187.8 44,500 0.01 0.23 0.24 35.2 8.4 9.62 249.8

c17 7,500 8,500 0.68 16.8 11.4 12,200 13,800 1.69 27.3 46.2 44,500 0.79 1.39 2.18 35.2 76.7 0.97 27.5 26.7 5.52 161.0

c18 44,500 6.91 15.11 22.02 35.2 775.1 0.18 27.5 4.9 22.20 780.0

c19 44,500 4.39 5.91 10.30 35.2 362.6 10.30 362.6

c20 44,500 3.88 2.24 6.12 35.2 215.4 6.12 215.4

c21 44,500 35.43 0.00 35.43 35.2 1,247.1 35.43 1,247.1

c22 44,500 24.18 7.91 32.09 35.2 1,129.6 32.09 1,129.6

c23 7,500 8,500 0.20 16.8 3.4 44,500 3.14 10.43 13.57 35.2 477.7 13.77 481.1

c24 7,500 8,500 2.88 16.8 48.5 13,800 15,600 4.30 30.9 132.8 44,500 2.05 5.65 7.70 35.2 271.0 0.48 27.5 13.2 0.43 33.4 14.4 15.79 479.9

c25 7,500 8,500 0.51 16.8 8.6 13,800 15,600 6.68 30.9 206.3 44,500 0.16 4.78 4.94 35.2 173.9 0.22 27.5 6.0 12.35 394.8

c26 8,100 9,200 1.67 18.2 30.4 13,800 15,600 5.05 30.9 156.0 44,500 2.05 27.87 29.92 35.2 1,053.2 4.55 28.1 127.7 41.19 1,367.3

c27 8,300 9,400 2.24 18.6 41.7 13,800 15,600 5.57 30.9 172.0 44,500 3.53 23.56 27.09 35.2 953.6 2.60 28.2 73.4 0.34 33.4 11.4 37.84 1,252.1

c28 8,300 9,400 3.24 18.6 60.3 14,200 16,000 17.28 31.7 547.4 44,500 0.19 0.00 0.19 35.2 6.7 20.71 614.4

c29 8,300 9,400 1.97 18.6 36.7 14,200 16,000 6.78 31.7 214.8 8.75 251.5

c30 8,300 9,400 0.60 18.6 11.2 14,200 16,000 2.84 31.7 90.0 44,500 4.60 0.44 5.04 35.2 177.4 0.69 28.2 19.5 9.17 298.1

c31 8,300 9,400 1.22 18.6 22.7 44,500 5.44 0.00 5.44 35.2 191.5 3.31 28.2 93.5 9.97 307.7

c32 8,300 9,400 0.01 18.6 0.2 44,500 9.87 0.82 10.69 35.2 376.3 0.91 28.2 25.7 11.61 402.2

c33 8,300 9,400 0.73 18.6 13.6 44,500 15.33 0.00 15.33 35.2 539.6 1.59 28.2 44.9 17.65 598.1

c34 8,300 9,400 0.37 18.6 6.9 44,500 8.24 3.69 11.93 35.2 419.9 3.17 28.2 89.5 15.47 516.3

c35 8,300 9,400 0.13 18.6 2.4 44,500 2.87 2.78 5.65 35.2 198.9 0.29 28.2 8.2 6.07 209.5

c36 8,300 9,400 0.36 18.6 6.7 14,200 16,000 0.21 31.7 6.7 44,500 2.00 3.41 5.41 35.2 190.4 1.32 28.2 37.3 7.30 241.1

c37 44,500 0.00 1.47 1.47 35.2 51.7 1.47 28.2 41.5 1.00 33.7 33.7 3.94 126.9

c38 44,500 1.95 3.98 5.93 35.2 208.7 5.93 208.7

c39 44,500 0.87 0.00 0.87 35.2 30.6 2.85 28.2 80.5 3.72 111.1

c40 8,300 9,400 0.02 18.6 0.4 44,500 1.77 0.00 1.77 35.2 62.3 1.79 62.7

c41 8,300 9,400 0.05 18.6 0.9 44,500 1.77 0.00 1.77 35.2 62.3 2.35 33.7 79.2 4.17 142.4

Totals: 58.82 874.9 81.70 2,695.8 216.38 228.91 445.29 15,674.1 38.37 1,052.0 22.39 799.0 646.57 21,095.8

- - 18

Table 7: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the McMullin Group inventory area for August 22 and September 8, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)


Low d High d Total



d43 6,600 7,500 0.86 14.9 12.8 14,800 16,700 0.98 33.1 32.4 44,500 0.08 0.00 0.08 35.2 2.8 1.92 48.0

d44 6,600 7,500 0.83 14.9 12.3 14,800 16,700 1.70 33.1 56.2 44,500 8.44 23.68 32.12 35.2 1,130.6 0.08 26.7 2.1 6.21 34.3 213.0 40.94 1,414.2

d45 6,600 7,500 1.89 14.9 28.1 14,800 16,700 2.57 33.1 85.0 44,500 28.56 20.53 49.09 35.2 1,728.0 53.55 1,841.1

d46 6,600 7,500 0.94 14.9 14.0 14,800 16,700 1.02 33.1 33.7 44,500 19.82 4.64 24.46 35.2 861.0 26.42 908.7

d47 6,600 7,500 0.03 14.9 0.4 14,800 16,700 0.45 33.1 14.9 0.48 15.3

d49 6,600 7,500 0.69 14.9 10.2 14,800 16,700 0.53 33.1 17.5 44,500 0.04 0.10 0.14 35.2 4.9 0.01 26.7 0.3 1.37 32.9

d50 6,600 7,500 0.26 14.9 3.9 14,800 16,700 0.06 33.1 2.0 44,500 9.35 6.14 15.49 35.2 545.2 0.00 26.7 0.0 0.08 34.3 2.7 15.89 553.8

d51 6,600 7,500 0.19 14.9 2.8 44,500 6.76 22.89 29.65 35.2 1,043.7 0.03 26.7 0.8 29.87 1,047.3

d52 6,600 7,500 0.83 14.9 12.3 14,800 16,700 1.40 33.1 46.3 44,500 8.43 13.02 21.45 35.2 755.0 0.48 26.7 12.8 0.42 34.3 14.4 24.58 840.8

d53 6,600 7,500 2.62 14.9 38.9 14,800 16,700 0.76 33.1 25.1 44,500 4.26 16.96 21.22 35.2 746.9 0.68 26.7 18.1 25.28 829.0

d54 44,500 0.91 0.28 1.19 35.2 41.9 1.19 41.9

Totals: 9.14 135.7 9.47 313.1 86.65 108.24 194.89 6,860.0 1.28 34.1 6.71 230.1 221.49 7,573.0

- - 19

Table 8: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the Thompson Bay inventory area for August 22 and September 8, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)


Low d High d Total



e(3) 14,800 16,700 0.04 33.1 1.3 0.04 1.3

e(4) 6,600 7,500 0.10 14.9 1.5 44,500 0.04 1.11 1.15 35.2 40.5 1.25 42.0

e(5) 6,600 7,500 0.26 14.9 3.9 14,800 16,700 0.28 33.1 9.3 44,500 1.07 8.93 10.00 35.2 352.0 0.13 26.7 3.5 10.67 368.7

e(6) 6,600 7,500 0.75 14.9 11.1 14,800 16,700 0.74 33.1 24.5 44,500 0.03 3.26 3.29 35.2 115.8 1.03 34.3 35.3 5.81 186.7

e(7) 6,600 7,500 1.59 14.9 23.6 14,800 16,700 0.36 33.1 11.9 44,500 3.45 6.79 10.24 35.2 360.4 0.50 26.7 13.3 0.90 34.3 30.9 13.59 440.1

e(8) 6,600 7,500 1.38 14.9 20.5 14,800 16,700 1.02 33.1 33.7 44,500 0.70 5.37 6.07 35.2 213.7 8.47 267.9

e(9) 44,500 1.07 0.43 1.50 35.2 52.8 1.50 52.8

e(10) 44,500 0.01 0.22 0.23 35.2 8.1 0.23 8.1

e1 6,600 7,500 0.13 14.9 1.9 14,800 16,700 0.14 33.1 4.6 44,500 2.80 5.87 8.67 35.2 305.2 1.44 34.3 49.4 10.38 361.1

e2 44,500 2.11 0.00 2.11 35.2 74.3 0.16 34.3 5.5 2.27 79.8

e3 44,500 0.85 0.00 0.85 35.2 29.9 0.85 29.9

e5 44,500 0.34 0.17 0.51 35.2 18.0 0.51 18.0

e13 44,500 1.49 0.44 1.93 35.2 67.9 0.06 26.7 1.6 1.99 69.5

e14 6,600 7,500 0.19 14.9 2.8 44,500 1.86 0.00 1.86 35.2 65.5 2.33 26.7 62.1 4.38 130.4

e15 44,500 0.73 0.00 0.73 35.2 25.7 0.73 25.7

e16 6,600 7,500 1.06 14.9 15.7 44,500 2.38 3.51 5.89 35.2 207.3 0.67 26.7 17.9 7.62 240.9

e17 6,600 7,500 0.83 14.9 12.3 44,500 6.12 3.48 9.60 35.2 337.9 0.21 26.7 5.6 10.64 355.8

e18 44,500 1.61 2.16 3.77 35.2 132.7 3.77 132.7

e19 44,500 2.14 4.33 6.47 35.2 227.7 6.47 227.7

e21 44,500 0.02 0.08 0.10 35.2 3.5 0.10 3.5

Totals: 6.29 93.3 2.58 85.3 28.82 46.15 74.97 2,638.9 3.90 104.0 3.53 121.1 91.27 3,042.6

- - 20

Table 9: Estimates of kelp bed area and biomass by statistical block and species/density category in the Bardswell Group inventory area for August 22 and September 8, 2007. B = Biomass (metric tonnes) ha = hectare d=density D = Density (number of plants or fronds/hectare)


Low d High d Total

Stat. Photo.Bottom Area Mean Photo. Bottom Area Mean Bottom Area Area Area Mean Area Mean Area Mean Area B


f18 6,600 7,500 0.05 14.9 0.7 44,500 2.70 4.39 7.09 35.2 249.6 7.14 250.3

f19 12,200 13,800 0.10 27.3 2.7 0.10 2.7

f20 6,600 7,500 3.47 14.9 51.5 12,200 13,800 1.91 27.3 52.2 44,500 0.54 1.95 2.49 35.2 87.6 0.78 26.7 20.8 8.65 212.1

f21 6,600 7,500 2.84 14.9 42.2 12,200 13,800 3.64 27.3 99.5 44,500 5.38 3.25 8.63 35.2 303.8 0.29 26.7 7.7 1.48 31.9 47.2 16.88 500.4

f22 44,500 0.05 0.00 0.05 35.2 1.8 0.05 1.8

f24 6,600 7,500 0.01 14.9 0.1 0.01 0.1

f25 6,600 7,500 0.01 14.9 0.1 12,200 13,800 0.02 27.3 0.5 44,500 0.83 0.00 0.83 35.2 29.2 0.09 26.7 2.4 0.95 32.2

f26 6,600 7,500 0.15 14.9 2.2 12,200 13,800 0.39 27.3 10.7 44,500 7.09 4.13 11.22 35.2 394.9 0.22 31.9 7.0 11.98 414.8

f27 6,600 7,500 0.03 14.9 0.4 44,500 0.19 0.00 0.19 35.2 6.7 0.22 7.1

f33 6,600 7,500 1.03 14.9 15.3 12,200 13,800 3.46 27.3 94.5 44,500 0.47 3.31 3.78 35.2 133.1 0.57 26.7 15.2 8.84 258.1

f34 6,600 7,500 1.99 14.9 29.6 12,200 13,800 3.30 27.3 90.2 44,500 0.00 3.47 3.47 35.2 122.1 0.21 26.7 5.6 8.97 247.5

f35 6,600 7,500 2.33 14.9 34.6 12,200 13,800 1.89 27.3 51.6 44,500 0.04 0.00 0.04 35.2 1.4 0.23 26.7 6.1 4.49 93.7

f36 6,600 7,500 1.86 14.9 27.6 12,200 13,800 2.51 27.3 68.6 44,500 0.71 0.00 0.71 35.2 25.0 0.31 31.9 9.9 5.39 131.1

f37 6,600 7,500 1.87 14.9 27.8 44,500 0.00 0.43 0.43 35.2 15.1 0.02 31.9 0.6 2.32 43.5

Totals: 15.64 232.1 17.22 470.5 18.00 20.93 38.93 1,370.3 2.17 57.8 2.03 64.7 75.99 2,195.4

- - 21 Table 10: Summary of total kelp bed area and standing crop kelp biomass estimates for each

geographic area summarized by kelp species for the 2007 inventory area.

Biomass

Area (metric

Geographic area (hectares) tonnes)

Low Density Nereocystis

a) Hakai Passage and Stirling Island 18.26 270.8

b) Cultus Sound 5.82 86.3

c) Goose Group 58.82 874.9

d) McMullin Group 9.14 135.7

e) Thompson Bay 6.29 93.3

f) Bardswell Group 15.64 232.1

High Density Nereocystis

a) Hakai Passage and Stirling Island 49.63 1,680.3


c) Goose Group 81.70 2,695.8




Low and High Density Macrocystis


b) Cultus Sound 32.02 1,127.1

c) Goose Group 445.29 15,674.1

d) McMullin Group 194.89 6,860.0

e) Thompson Bay 74.97 2,638.9

f) Bardswell Group 38.93 1,370.3

Low Density Mixed



c) Goose Group 38.37 1,052.0




High Density Mixed



c) Goose Group 22.39 799.0




_________ _________

Total of all species for

entire inventory area: 1,147.69 37,289.2

- - 22 Table 11. Kelp bed area and total biomass estimates for Nereocystis, Macrocystis and Mixed beds

and for each geographic area.

Biomass

Area (metric

(hectares) tonnes)

Totals by species: Nereocystis 278.92 7,082.0

Macrocystis 786.78 27,694.5

Mixed 81.99 2,512.7

Totals by a) Hakai Pass. and Stirling Is. 69.22 1,996.9

geographic area: b) Cultus Sound 43.15 1,385.5

c) Goose Group 646.57 21,095.8

d) McMullin Group 221.49 7,573.0

e) Thompson Bay 91.27 3,042.6

f) Bardswell Group 75.99 2,195.4

________ ________

Total of all species for

entire inventory area: 1,147.69 37,289.2

Table 12. Percent composition of low and high density Nereocystis, Macrocystis and mixed bed

surface area in each geographic area. The last column gives percent composition of the kelp bed surface area for the entire 2007 inventory area.

Area: a b c d e f Combined

Percent Bed Area

Nereocystis

-low density 26.4% 13.5% 9.1% 4.1% 6.9% 20.6% 9.9%

-high density 71.7% 10.1% 12.6% 4.3% 2.8% 22.7% 14.4%

Macrocystis

-high and low 1.0% 74.2% 68.9% 88.0% 82.1% 51.2% 68.6%

Mixed

-low density 0.1% 1.4% 5.9% 0.6% 4.3% 2.9% 4.0%

-high density 0.8% 0.8% 3.5% 3.0% 3.9% 2.7% 3.1%

- - 23 Table 13. Percent composition of Macrocystis and low and high density Nereocystis and mixed bed

total biomass in each geographic area. The last column gives percent composition of the total biomass for the entire 2007 inventory area.

Area: a b c d e f Combined

Percent Biomass

Nereocystis

-low density 13.6% 6.2% 4.1% 1.8% 3.1% 10.6% 4.5%

-high density 84.1% 10.4% 12.8% 4.1% 2.8% 21.4% 14.5%

Macrocystis

-high and low 1.2% 81.3% 74.3% 90.6% 86.7% 62.4% 74.3%

Mixed

-low density 0.1% 1.2% 5.0% 0.5% 3.4% 2.6% 3.4%

-high density 1.0% 0.8% 3.8% 3.0% 4.0% 2.9% 3.3%

Comparison with 1993 Kelp Inventory

Kelp inventory estimates rely on field sampling and on the results of aerial photography and its

interpretation; changes in these aspects between inventories will affect the subsequent estimates.

Field work provides data on mean biomass per Nereocystis plant or Macrocystis frond and also

Macrocystis density. Field methods used in 1993 and 2007 field work were generally similar. As

shown in Table 14, mean biomass per Nereocystis plant has decreased between the inventories by

31%, mean biomass per Macrocystis frond values increased by 8%, and the Macrocystis density

decreased by 10%.

Table 14. The mean total biomass per Nereocystis plant and Macrocystis frond and mean Macrocystis density for both the 1993 and 2007 inventories. (1993 data from Field, 1996)

Mean Biomass/ plant or frond (kg) Mean # fronds/sq.m.

Inventory Date Nereocystis Macrocystis Macrocystis

1993 2.85 0.73 4.93

2007 1.98 0.79 4.45

Briefly, the aerial photography is used to determine species present, kelp bed area and

Nereocystis density. When good aerial photographic coverage is available, kelp bed area

- - 24

determination can be quite exacting. Methods used for measuring area have taken advantage

of new technologies but in general the process has changed little. The spatial extent of kelp beds in

inventory work is determined by the air photo image available for interpretation. As the tide height

increases, lesser amounts of kelp are able to reach the water surface to be seen in aerial

photographs. For this reason, tide can be a critical factor, however, both the 1993 and 2007 aerial

photography was taken at MWL +/- 0.6 meters as is optimal for KIM-1 (Foreman, 1975).

The 1993 aerial photography used black and white infrared film as the KIM-1 method was

designed to use and beds were traced directly from the negatives; the 2007 photography used colour

infrared film which was digitized and beds were outlined digitally. In the black and white negatives, the

kelp is dark against a light ocean, standing out fairly clearly. In the colour infrared photographs the

kelp is coloured light reddish against a dark ocean. In correspondence with British Columbia‟s

Integrated Land Management Bureau (A. Calarco, Manager, Air Photo and Digital Imagery) it was

noted that while it is expected that: “black and white IR (BIR) film is still available, it hasn‟t been used

by the Province in some time and is not as responsive as colour IR (CIR) media. The BIR film is

commonly called near-infrared film since it is only sensitive in the 0.7 to 0.9 micron range while CIR is

substantially more sensitive (0.5 to 0.9 microns). A big advantage to CIR is that you not only get a

wider range of IR data but also capture the red and green colour bands.” And, “typically the preference

is to go with CIR film for the reasons mentioned above.”

.Some photography of both the 1993 and 2007 inventories was taken outside the 10:00 to

14:00 hours optimum times, a condition that could increase glare, especially in waves, possibly

obscuring some kelp in portions of the images; in 2007, almost half of the images were outside the

optimum.

As noted above, area coverage available from aerial photography is very similar in the 1993

and 2007 kelp inventories but with some differences. While the 1993 inventory included 136 statistical

kilometer blocks and the 2007 inventory includes 130, there are 128 statistical blocks that are common

to both reports. The following discusses these common blocks using results of the 2007 inventory and

data taken from the report by Field (1996) for 1993.

Table 15 presents the kelp bed area and total standing crop biomass estimates for 1993 and

2007 in the common blocks by bed type. Figure 5 presents the kelp bed area information graphically

by species for each survey area; Figures 6 and 7 present the information for bed area and biomass,

respectively, for the area as a whole. When all bed types are included for this area, the 2007 bed area

and biomass estimates are roughly 75% and 68%, respectively, of the 1993 estimates, indicating an

overall decline in stocks.

In the 1993 inventory of the overlap area, Macrocystis made up 23% of the bed area and

biomass; in 2007 the species reached 68% of the bed area and 74% of the biomass biomass (Table

15; Figure 5). The estimated Macrocystis bed area in 2007 was found to be more than 2.25 times the

- - 25

1993 area (Figure 6). The average biomass per hectare for the species in 2007 of 35.2

tonnes/ha. was only slightly less than the 1993 value of 36.0 tonnes/ha (Figure 7). The Macrocystis

biomass estimate for 2007 was approximately 2.21 times the 1993 estimate.

Nereocystis bed area and biomass estimates declined over the 14 years and by 2007 are 26%

and 19%, respectively, of the 1993 estimates (Table 15, Figure 5). In the 1993 inventory estimate,

70% of the bed area and biomass in the area in common was made up of Nereocystis; this had

declined to 24% of the bed area and 19% of the biomass in 2007 (Figure 6 and 7).

Mixed beds are not extensive in the region of overlap, estimated at 7 to 8% of the bed area and

biomass in 1993 and 2007, respectively.

Table 15. Kelp bed area and total standing crop biomass estimates for the 128 statistical block region

of overlap in 1993 and 2007 inventories area by bed type and summarized by species. (1993 data adapted from Field, 1996); high and low denote density; N = Nereocystis; M = Macrocystis; Mix = mixed beds.

Total Kelp Bed Area (hectares) of common blocks

Low N

High N

Low M

High M

High & Low M Low Mix

High Mix

Total 199

3 583.56

478.32

229.92

115.66 345.58

91.72

23.72

1,522.90 200

7 113.97

164.91

367.67

412.64 780.31

46.43

35.56

1,141.18

N

M Mi

x Total 199

3 1061.88

345.58

115.44

1522.9

2007

278.88

780.31

81.99

1141.18

Total Biomass (tonnes) of common blocks

Low N

High N

Low Mix

High Mix

Total 199

3 12,634.0

25,524.6

12,440.0

2,730.8

1,028.6

54,358.0 200

7 1,693.1

5,387.6

27,466.8

1,265.6

1,245.9

37,059.0

N M Mix

Total 199

3 38,158.60

12440

3759.4

54,358.00 200

7 7,080.70

27,466.80

2511.5

37,059.00

High & Low M

- - 26

0

50

100

150

200

Hectares

N M Mix Total

a) Hakai Passage/ Stirling Island

1993 2007

0

50

100

150

200

Hectares

N M Mix Total

b) Cultus Sound

1993 2007

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Hectares

N M Mix Total

c) Goose Group

1993 2007

0

100

200

300

400

Hectares

N M Mix Total

d) McMullin Group

1993 2007

0

50

100

150

200

Hectares

N M Mix Total

e) Thompson Bay

1993 2007

0

50

100

150

200

Hectares

N M Mix Total

f) Bardswell Group

1993 2007

Figure 5. Graphs showing estimated changes in kelp bed area in hectares by species for the statistical blocks that are covered by both the 1993

and 2007 inventories for each geographic inventory area. Note that the scale changes between charts. N = Nereocystis; M = Macrocystis; Mix = mixed beds

- - 27

Figure 6. Graphs showing estimated changes in kelp bed area in hectares by species for

the 128 statistical blocks over the inventory area that are covered by both the 1993 and 2007 inventories. N = Nereocystis; M = Macrocystis; Mix = mixed beds.

0

25,000

50,000

75,000

Tonnes

N M Mix Total

Biomass Estimate for Entire Inventory Area

1993 2007

Figure 7. Graphs showing estimated changes in kelp bed biomass in tonnes by species

for the 128 statistical blocks over the inventory area that are covered by both the 1993 and 2007 inventories. N = Nereocystis; M = Macrocystis; Mix = mixed beds.

Nereocystis density in both years was derived using the point intercept method

and calculations used the same conversion factor to total density. In 1993, adequate

Nereocystis beds to allow counts of density were available in the Goose and McMullin

Groups. The overall mean bottom densities for low and high density Nereocystis were

calculated by Field (1996) for these areas, combined, for use in areas with too few

counts; similar figures were calculated for the Goose Group alone in 2007 for the same

purpose. For a limited comparison of Nereocystis density between surveys the overall

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Hectares

N M Mix Total

Bed Area Estimate for Entire Inventory Area

1993 2007

- - 28

mean bottom densities for the Goose Group were calculated for 1993 and 2007 and

presented in Table 16.

Table 16. Overall mean bottom densities (plants per hectare) for high and low density Nereocystis for the Goose Group calculated for 1993 and 2007 using the equation shown below where D/ha= bottom density per hectare and A = kelp bed area (hectares).

Low Nereocystis High Nereocystis 1993 7,700/ ha 17,900/ ha 2007 7,500/ ha 16,700/ ha

Mean bottom density per hectare for area = (D/ha*A)

(A)

DISCUSSION

Prior to 1974, methods used to estimate kelp stocks in British Columbia were

limited by problems such as “poor repeatability, inaccuracy in estimating aerial extent

and mean plant biomass, non-representative sampling, and lack of consideration of tidal

influences” (Foreman, 1984). The KIM-1 method developed by Foreman (1975) has

been found to be repeatable (Foreman, 1982), uses accurate measurements from aerial

photographs, incorporates random sampling and considers the vertical distribution of

kelp through the water column relative to tidal height.

KIM-1 biomass estimates for high density Nereocystis have shown overestimates

of approximately 20-40% when compared with harvested quantities (Foreman, 1984).

KIM-1 biomass estimates for high density Macrocystis beds appear to be

underestimates but results of harvest tests are inconclusive. Changes to the KIM-1

method have attempted to provide more accurate estimates of Macrocystis stocks and to

streamline fieldwork. Modifications to the method for Nereocystis have appeared to

produce minor changes to estimates while those for Macrocystis have resulted in

increases of up to 93% over the KIM-1 method (Sutherland, 1990). Updating technology

through the use in the present inventory of colour infrared photography and digital

mapping of kelp polygons directly from georeferenced digital images are the most recent

changes to methods. The resulting accuracy of the latest version of KIM-1, with the

changes made over the years, has not yet been tested by harvesting an inventoried

area.

- - 29

A significant section made up of 128 statistical kilometer blocks of the Hakai

Passage to Bardswell Group area was inventoried in 1993 and again in 2007. Estimates

showed an overall decline over the fourteen year period to approximately 75% of the

1993 bed area and 68% of the biomass. Macrocystis beds increased during the period

while Nereocystis beds declined. Mixed kelp made up 8% of bed area in 1993 and 7% in

2007.

Over the entire inventory area, in 2007 most Nereocystis beds were found in the

Goose Group, Hakai Passage/Stirling Island and the McMullin Group, the largest

quantity being in the Goose Group. Inventory estimates showed a decrease in

Nereocystis stands by 2007 to 26% of 1993 bed area and 19% of biomass estimates.

The greatest decline was in the McMullin Group where the 2007 estimate of bed area

declined to 9% of the 1993 estimate and biomass to 6%.

The focus of the present report was to inventory Macrocystis stocks. The major

concentrations of the species were in the Goose and McMullin Groups but significant

bed areas of the species were found in all areas except the Hakai Passage/Stirling

Island area where less than a hectare of the species in pure stands was found. Inventory

estimates indicate an increase between 1993 and 2007 of 2.25 times in Macrocystis bed

area and 2.21 times in biomass.

Provided sea surface conditions, tide height, currents and flight conditions are

right, kelp bed area is usually considered to be the most reliable estimate made in the

kelp inventories. Changes, both large and small, in kelp bed area, over a period of years,

have been noted in a few past kelp inventories where there were small areas of overlap

with previous inventories (Sutherland, 1990, 1998, 1999). Often, a decline in Nereocystis

was noted along with an increase in Macrocystis as in the present inventory. The

reasons for the changes are not known although a large settlement of sea urchins was

suggested anecdotally to have contributed to one past Nereocystis decline.

In 2007 the Goose and McMullin Groups together were estimated to hold 76% of

kelp bed area and 77% of the biomass, however, all inventory areas held significant

stocks of kelp. Cultus Sound was estimated to hold the least, with 43 hectares of mainly

Macrocystis.

- - 30

REFERENCES Coon, L.M., 1981. Kelp Inventory, 1981. Porcher Island. Unpublished data. Coon, L.M., 1982. An assessment of kelp stocks in the Port Hardy-Malcolm Island

region. Ministry of Environment internal report. 6 pp. Coon, L.M., E.J. Field and Canadian Benthic Ltd., 1976. Nootka Sound Kelp Inventory,

1975. British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 2 (2nd Edition). 27 pp.

Coon, L.M., W.G. Roland, E.J. Field and W.E.L. Clayton, 1979. Kelp Inventory, 1976,

Part 3. North and West Coasts Graham Island (Q.C.I.). British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 13. 26 pp. plus 5 charts.

Coon, L.M., W.G. Roland, E.J. Field, W.E.L. Clayton and V. Jenson, 1980. Kelp

Inventory, 1976, Part 4. Goschen Island to the Tree Nob Group. British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 19. 18 pp. plus 6 charts.

Coon, L.M., W.G. Roland, E.J. Field, W.E.L. Clayton and V. Jenson, 1981. Kelp

Inventory, 1976, Part 5. North Vancouver Island, Hope, Nigei and Balaklava Islands. British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 20. 20 pp. plus 5 charts.

Coon, L.M., W.G. Roland, I.R. Sutherland and R.A. Hall, 1982. Kelp Inventory, 1978,

Northwest Coast of Vancouver Island. British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 28. 16 pp. plus 5 charts.

Field, E.J., 1996. Kelp Inventory, 1993, Areas of the British Columbia Central Coast from

Hakai Passage to the Bardswell Group. British Columbia Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 37. 23 pp. plus 8 charts.

Field, E.J. and E.A.C. Clark, 1978. Kelp Inventory, 1976, Part 2. The Dundas Group.

British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 11. 21 pp. plus 4 charts.

Field, E.J., L.M. Coon, W.E.L. Clayton and E.A.C. Clark, 1977. Kelp Inventory, 1976,

Part 1. The Estevan Group and Campania Island. British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Fish. Management Rep. No. 9. 19 pp. plus 5 charts.

Foreman, R.E., 1975. KIM-1. A method for inventory of floating kelps and its application

to selected areas of Kelp License Area 12. Benthic Ecological Research Program Report 75-1. Report to Federal Fisheries and Marine Service and Provincial Marine Resources Branch. 81 pp.

Foreman, R.E. and E. Cabot, 1979. Supplementary evaluation of the KIM-1 Method for

Nereocystis. Benthic Ecological Research Program Report 79-2. 18 pp. Foreman, R.E., E. Cabot and B. Oates, 1982. Studies on Nereocystis luetkeana I:

Annual and seasonal dynamics of the floating kelp beds off the northwest coast

- - 31

of Malcolm Island. Report to the British Columbia Marine Resources Branch, Ministry of Environment. 54 pp.

Foreman, R.E., 1984. Studies on Nereocystis growth in British Columbia. Hydrobiologia

116/117, 325-332. Sutherland, I.R., 1989. Kelp Inventory, 1988 Juan de Fuca Strait. British Columbia

Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 35. 18 pp. plus 6 charts.

Sutherland, I.R., 1990. Kelp Inventory, 1989 The Vancouver Island and Malcolm Island

shores of Queen Charlotte Strait, including a summary of historical inventory information for the area. British Columbia Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 36. 41 pp. plus 3 charts.

Sutherland, I.R., 1996. Kelp Inventory, 1995 Nootka Sound. British Columbia

Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 38. 22 pp. plus 5 charts.

Sutherland, I.R., 1998. Kelp Inventory, 1996 Porcher Island, Goschen Island, Banks

Island and the Estevan Group. British Columbia Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fish. Development Rep. No. 39. 27 pp. plus 11 charts.

- - 32

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Ken Cripps, Ross Wilson, Stewart Humchitt and Debbie Paltzat braved the

elements to undertake the dive survey work and collect the field data. Tammy Norguard

was instrumental in organizing and compiling the survey work.

John Bolton from the Heiltsuk Tribal council is acknowledged for his efforts in

organizing the funding and crew to make this survey come together. Funding for the field

survey was secured by the tireless efforts of Jim Young of the Ministry of the

Environment (MOE).

Funding for the infra-red aerial survey was provided by the foresight of Jamie

Alley, Director of the Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch (OMFB) of MOE and funding

for the report compilation was secured by the relentless efforts Greg Mallette and ably

managed by Brad Mason both of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Ian Sutherland and Michael Coon are gratefully acknowledged for sharing their

knowledge, corporate memory and talent. And Debbie Paltzat kindly reviewed the final

document provided excellent edits.

And finally, the critical and meticulous work of air photo interpretation and

creation of the kelp spatial files and much, much more was done by Melanie Mamoser

and Valsiki Karpouzi.

This work would not have been possible without the co-operation and teamwork

of all those listed above. This document is a credit to all of them.

Barron Carswell

Manager of Operations

Oceans and Marine Fisheries Branch

B.C. Ministry of Environment, 2008

- - 33

APPENDIX I

Methods used in digital aerial photo interpretation, kelp bed mapping and Nereocystis density evaluation.

Courtesy of M. Mamoser and V. Karpouzi, B.C. Ministry of Environment

- - 2

Methods The methods used to obtain kelp bed maps and estimates of area coverage and biomass in this inventory follow those outlined by Field (1996). Information on kelp distribution and biomass was encoded in a spatial database for both Bull [Nereocystis luetkeana (K. Mertens) Postels & Ruprecht 1840] and Giant kelp (Macrocystis integrifolia Bory de Saint-Vincent 1826). Both species occur along the Central Coast of B.C. The areas included in the inventory are the Hakai Passage, Bardswell, McMullin and Goose Groups, Thompson Bay, Cultus Sound and Stirling Island. Each kelp bed was represented as a polygon with a unique identification number. For each polygon, information on the kelp species, area coverage (in m2), species density and biomass was also recorded. Aerial Photography High quality infrared (IR) aerial photographs were taken on August 22 and September 8, 2007. The photos were taken at a 1:7200 scale (KIM-1 was developed and statistically evaluated for this scale), using a 1443 Kodak Aerochrome III IR film and a 305 mm lens. Forward overlap was 20%. Aerial photography occurred between 1250 and 1520 PST, over calm seas, at sea level equal or less than 0.6 meter of the Mean Water Level (MWL). Tide level readings for Bella Bella (the nearest recording station to the inventory area) were obtained from the Canadian Hydrographic Service. The data were converted to levels at Gosling Island, using information from Volume 6 of the Canadian Tide and Current Tables. Thus, it was determined that all aerial photography was done during the optimal for KIM-1 tide level range (i.e., MWL ± 0.6 m; range from 2.32 m to 2.84 m). Aerial triangulation and ortho-rectification (geo-coding) were undertaken for all 2007 infrared aerial photographs with a resolution of 0.12 mm x 0.12 mm cell size. The geo-coded images were made available to the Ministry of Environment in TIF/TFW, Mr.Sid, ECW, and JPEG compressed formats. The projection for the orthophotos was UTM Nad83. Kelp Bed Mapping The 1993 kelp inventory for the Central Coast of B.C. is available in a digitized form by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. The digitized layers used included:

1. 20k shore; 2. 20k coastline; 3. Statistical block; and, 4. 1993 kelp coverage.

The layers were loaded into ArcGIS 9.2 which was employed to map the kelp beds. The 20k shore and coastline layers functioned as a base map of the

- - 3

central coast area of interest. The same statistical blocks used for the 1993 inventory were used to make results comparable. The kelp coverage layer from the 1993 inventory was used as a guide to map kelp beds identified on the 2007 digitized aerial photographs. Kelp bed mapping was done by tracing their outline directly from the digitized aerial photographs. Kelp beds were tabulated by species, Nereocystis, Macrocystis, or as mixed, and by density, high or low. Kelp bed polygons occasionally spanned two statistical blocks, in which case they were cut using the statistical block as a guide. This facilitated statistical analysis while maintaining complete coverage. The two species were distinguished based on clarity, size and location. Nereocystis has a linear appearance and, in dense areas, resembles random sticks on the surface of the water. The image is generally quite sharp as most plants are on the surface (See figure X1a). Macrocystis has a more clumped appearance and looks somewhat fuzzy. Nereocystis are generally smaller than Macrocystis, which is perennial, and prefers more exposed areas (See figure X1b). (Foreman, 1975; Abbot and Hollenberg, 1976). The density separation for a bed was arbitrary based on the percent coverage of plants or fronds. For Nereocystis the division was 15% (e.g. Low ≤ 15%; High > 15%) and for Macrocystis the division was 40%. See figure X2 for an example of the different density categories. In order to calculate the kelp bed area (in m2) represented by polygons, the „Calculate Areas‟ command was used from the ArcToolbox menu (Command line path: ArcToolbox Spatial Statistics Tools Utilities Calculate Areas). Overall, the 2007 kelp bed area was 11,476,450 m2 of that; Nereocystis (Bull kelp): 2,789,506.m2; or 24 %; Macrocystis (Giant kelp): 7,867,385.24 m2, or 69%; Nereocystis/Macrocystis (Mixed beds) 819,558.01 m2, or 7% Density Counts Densities of Bull kelp beds were obtained using the point-intercept count method (Foreman, 1975). In essence, the method samples individual plants via interception of points on a 50 m x 50 m grid superimposed on the IR aerial photograph. For every statistical block, random points were generated using the Random Point-in-Polygon Generation Program (Visual Basic for Applications Macro; Sawada, 2002). Then, random points were used to center the grid at least once on big enough polygons. Overall, only 84 polygons allowed at least one grid count (see Table 1).

- - 4

Figure X1: Example of different kelp bed types. High resolution images allow better clarity at higher zoom during interpretation.

a) Macrocystis

integrifolia

b) Nereocystis luetkeana

- - 5

c) Mixed

Figure X2: Examples of kelp bed density categories.

Nereocystis luetkeana Macrocystis integrifolia

High

Low

Table 1: Density counts of Bull kelp beds obtained using the point-intercept count method. Block: Statistical block; P_ID: Polygon identification code; Counts:

- - 6

Number of times the grid was placed in a polygon; #1 – #8: Number of hits of plants on a grid point; Mean: Mean number of hits; D/10 m2: Density of plants per 10 m2. [Note that means shown below are illustrative only. As has been standard in application of the KIM-1 method to areas with little Nereocystis or with small beds of the species, counts for adjacent or nearby blocks are combined to obtain the minimum acceptable number of 10 counts. IS] Block P_ID Counts #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 Mean D/10m

2

a13 1172 1 19 19 12.165 a14 1140 1 19 19 12.165 a15 932 1 32 32 18.091 a15 945 1 18 18 11.709 a17 2042 1 31 31 17.635 a19 1021 1 22 22 13.532 a20 1989 2 35 27 31 17.635 a21 188 1 30 30 17.179 a22 998 1 41 41 22.193 a23 909 1 22 22 13.532 a25 2017 2 14 14 14 9.886 a27 1162 1 28 28 16.267 b(2) 278 1 29 29 16.723 b(2) 265 1 35 35 19.458 b(2) 283 1 58 58 29.942 c2 2815 1 13 13 9.430 c4 2310 1 6 6 6.239 c6 1532 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 3.686 c6 1533 8 1 1 0 4 0 4 2 1 2 4.245 c6 3110 4 15 14 9 5 11 8.404 c6 3111 2 1 1 1 3.960 c6 3112 1 16 16 10.797 c6 3113 2 1 10 6 6.011 c7 1524 7 4 4 2 3 7 6 15 6 6.174 c7 1530 1 5 5 5.783 c7 3098 2 2 2 2 4.416 c8 2133 1 21 21 13.077 c8 2285 8 11 7 5 3 9 6 17 10 9 7.379 c10 1505 1 18 18 11.709 c10 1507 2 16 24 20 12.621 c10 2154 1 57 57 29.487 c10 2168 2 30 49 40 21.509 c10 2169 1 24 24 14.444 c10 2170 1 52 52 27.207 c11 1490 2 29 41 35 19.458 c11 1492 2 8 14 11 8.518 c11 2180 2 18 27 23 13.760 c11 2193 3 2 19 10 10 8.214 c12 2205 1 1 1 3.960 c13 2222 1 32 32 18.091

Contd.

- - 7

Table 1: continued Block P_ID Counts #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 Mean D/10m

2

c13 2229 1 14 14 9.886 c15 1362 3 22 25 14 20 12.773 c15 2243 2 7 9 8 7.151 c15 2249 3 3 8 2 4 5.479 c15 2250 3 14 18 16 16 10.797 c17 2251 3 7 21 31 20 12.469 c17 2260 1 13 13 9.430 c24 1318 4 23 16 41 24 26 15.356 c24 2360 1 13 13 9.430 c24 2377 1 15 15 10.342 c25 1311 2 5 15 10 8.062 c25 2408 3 21 6 5 11 8.366 c26 1301 1 39 39 21.282 c26 1303 1 24 24 14.444 c26 2525 2 10 13 12 8.746 c26 2536 1 5 5 5.783 c27 1291 3 24 24 10 19 12.317 c27 2427 1 11 11 8.518 c27 2462 1 22 22 13.532 c28 1261 1 26 26 15.356 c28 1272 3 44 24 27 32 17.939 c28 1274 5 15 27 25 33 15 23 13.988 c28 2471 2 10 6 8 7.151 c28 2474 1 13 13 9.430 c28 2506 5 11 29 35 18 19 22 13.715 c28 2547 1 13 13 9.430 c29 2485 2 9 17 13 9.430 d52 513 1 25 25 14.900 d53 125 1 8 8 7.151 e17 1868 1 10 10 8.062 f20 160 3 0 2 2 1 4.112 f21 3173 2 15 15 15 10.342 f33 1752 1 15 15 10.342 f33 1757 5 12 17 34 30 16 22 13.441 f33 1771 1 11 11 8.518 f34 1773 1 8 8 7.151 f34 2773 1 3 3 4.872 f34 2774 1 8 8 7.151 f35 1794 2 19 31 25 14.900 f35 2779 1 20 20 12.621 f36 1811 1 7 7 6.695 f36 1815 1 17 17 11.253 f36 2753 1 21 21 13.077 f37 2808 1 13 13 9.430

- - 8

References Abbot, I.A. and G.J. Hollenberg, 1976. Marine Algae of California. Stanford

University Press, Stanford, California. 827 pp. Field, E.J., 1996. Kelp Inventory, 1993. Areas of the British Columbia Central

Coast from Hakai Passage to the Bardswell Group. British Columbia Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch, Fisheries Development Report 37, 23 pp.

Foreman, R.E., 1975. KIM-1: A method for inventory of floating kelps and its application to selected areas of Kelp License Area 12. Benthic Ecological Research Program Report 75-1. Report to Federal Fisheries and Marine Service and B.C. Marine Resources Branch. 81 pp.

Sawada, M., 2002. Instructions to use the Random Point-in-Polygon Generation Program (VBA Macro). Department of Geography, University of Ottawa. 11 pp.

- - 1

APPENDIX II

Dive Survey Report Kelp Inventory 2007

Dive Survey Report Kelp Inventory, 2007

Areas of British Columbia

Central Coast from Hakai Passage to Bardswell Group

Prepared by Tammy Norgard

Ken Cripps

Debbie Paltzat

Prepared for Heiltsuk Tribal Council

and the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy Area

March 2008

- 1 -

Acknowledgements We would like to thanks Ken Cripps, Ross Wilson, Stewart Humchitt and Debbie Paltzat for their excellent Dive survey work and collection of the field data. Introduction The Kelp Survey Method (KIM-1) developed by Foreman (1975) has been used throughout British Columbia during the 1990‟s to inventory standing stock of the major bed forming kelps Nereocystis luetkeana (bull kelp) and Macrocystis integrifolia (giant kelp). This method integrates infrared aerial photography and data from field estimates of mean plant weight to provide species specific biomass estimates. In 1993 the Heiltsuk Fisheries program undertook an inventory of their Kelp Resources and the results of this survey can be found in the Fisheries Development Report, ISSN 0288-5975; no.37 (Field 1993). The data reported in this report summarizes the results of the August 2007 kelp dive field survey. This field report will be incorporated into the overall analysis with the infrared aerial photography to gain complete biomass estimates for this area. The results of the 2007 survey will provide the Heiltsuk Band and the Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy Area with current kelp biomass estimates. Also this data can be compared with the survey data from the 1993 to assess the changes in kelp biomass over the past 14 years. Identification of transect locations The survey was completed from August 22nd to August 30th, 2007. Transects were randomly identified on nautical charts by placing numbered grid paper over the study area (Figure 1). Random numbers were generated for X and Y intercepts. If the XY intercept fell outside beds identified in previous studies they were excluded. Good weather allowed us to complete more dive transects than were necessary so additional transects were placed in areas that were not part of previous studies. Local knowledge and field observations were used to identify the location and extent of the beds. Transects were then randomly identified in these beds using the same XY intercept approach used to identify transects in previously studied beds. [Ideally, all sample locations should be established at the start of the process to ensure appropriate statistical representation but good weather is too good an opportunity to pass up. IS] Field Methods Macrocystis A 25 foot skiff was used to conduct all field surveys. The skiff was anchored at the randomly selected transect location A compass course was taken on the surface that was roughly parallel to the depth contours. The sampling unit was a 2 meter by 40 meter quadrat. Each of the two divers was responsible for counting all of the fronds

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within one meter of their respective side of the transect line. A cannon ball, attached to a 40 meter long lead line, was dropped over the side of the boat to identify the start location for the transect. Diver 1 descended with a goodie bag containing the lead line and swam in the direction of the predetermined compass course. To ensure there was no damage to Macrocystis fronds, where Macrocystis plants were encounter along the compass bearing the goodie bag containing the leadline was passed through the plant while the diver went around. While Diver 1 was placing the transect line Diver 2 collected a Macrocystis plant or plants that were closest to the cannon ball until a minimum of 20 fronds were collected. Depth, substrate, and time were recorded for each biosample. Only plants outside the transect area were collected. Once biosamples were collected Diver 2 retrieved the one meter sticks and clip boards from the skiff and met Diver 1 at the far end of the transect line. All fronds, frond initials and senescent fronds greater than 10cm were counted for each holdfast within the quadrat area. To ensure there was no double counting of plants the near shore diver counted all the plants that contacted the transect line plus all of the holdfasts that were completely within the one meter wide quadrat. The other diver did not count any fronds that were in direct contact with the transect line but counted all the holdfasts that were completely within the one meter plus those holdfasts that were partially within the one meter quadrat. While divers were conducting transect surveys Macrocystis biosamples were processed by enumerating and removing the fronds, frond initials, and senescent fronds greater than 10 cm from the holdfast and placing them in a large bucket. A total weight and the number of fronds were recorded for each biosample. Bucket weight was removed from the total weight of the bucket and fronds. Nereocystis Only biosamples were required for beds that contained only Nereocystis. Biosamples were collected by anchoring the boat at the randomly selected location and sending down a single diver to collect 15 to 20 Nereocystis plants that were in close proximity to the anchor. The diver recorded the depth that the biosample was taken. Holdfasts were removed and weight was recorded for each plant. Field Survey Results The field survey results will be analyzed with the Ariel survey will be done to complete Biomass estimated for the areas. The highest Macrocystis Frond density of 11.95/m2 was found at transect 82 in Spider Island (Table 1). Also North Goose and Thompson Bay had Frond densities of over 10/m2. The highest Nereocystis individual plant weights were found around Goose Island and the Bardwell Group (Table 2).

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Summary Once the dive survey is incorporated with the Arial data we will have a better understanding of the Kelp Biomass in the areas. The preliminary dive survey results show us that there were still high densities of Macrocystis throughout the area.

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Table 1 Summary of Macrocystis Field survey data. The columns were of Total Frond Wt, Mean Frond Wt and Number of Fronds was completed in the Biosampling and the Frond Count was completed in the during the dive. The Frond Density (#/m2) is the sum of the two diver counts divided by the 80 quadrate (2 meter wide by 40 meter long quadrat).

Total Frond Tare Mean Frond Number Frond Count Frond Count Frond Density/

Transect Depth(ft) Date Time Location Latitude Longitude wt (g) wt (g) Wt (g) of Fronds Diver 1 Diver 2 Quadrat (#/m2)

54 18 08/22/07 14:50:00 West Goose Is 51 58.081 128 27.400 17 4.2 0.47 27 329 227 6.95

51 16 08/22/07 13:10:00 N Goose Is 52 00.160 128 26.238 15.4 10.5 0.33 15 568 310 10.98

46 28 08/22/07 9:43:00 E Goose Is 51 58.005 128 05.092 18.7 6.3 0.52 24 183 180 4.54

50 32 08/22/07 12:05:00 N Goose Is 52 00.400 128 26.090 20.8 6.3 0.97 15 116 152 3.35

56 22 08/22/07 15:58:00 West Goose Is 51 56.822 128 28.803 21.3 4.2 1.22 14 221 241 5.78

57 25 08/23/07 13:23:00 West Goose Is 51 56.401 128 28.939 18 2.1 1.45 11 156 222 4.73

39 20 08/23/07 14:23:00 S Goose Is 51 54.965 128 27.263 22.9 8.4 1.12 13 32 87 1.49

42 20 08/23/07 16:08:00 E Goose Is 51 56.120 128 26.292 11.2 2.1 0.51 18 93 132 2.81

37 22 08/23/07 14:53:00 S Goose Is 51 54.068 128 26.312 40.6 6.3 1.43 24 293 219 6.40

43 17 08/23/07 16:35:00 E Goose Is 51 56.320 128 25.830 16.8 2.1 0.67 22 57 117 2.18

27 0 08/24/07 11:39:00 Cultus Sound 51 54.673 128 11.911 7.7 2.1 0.56 10 0 0 0.00

29 18 08/24/07 10:40:00 Cultus Sound 51.55.788 128.10.799 22.4 2.1 0.97 21 112 55 2.09

20 16 08/24/07 13:44:00 Cultus Sound 51 53.578 128 14.218 15.2 2.1 0.66 20 126 99 2.81

25 21 08/24/07 11:52:00 Cultus Sound 51 55.010 128 13.405 22.4 2.1 1.02 20 334 298 7.90

26 12 08/24/07 14:37:00 Cultus Sound 51 54.875 128 12.853 11.5 2.1 0.36 26 179 304 6.04

44 22 08/25/07 10:21:00 E Goose Is 51 57.479 128 25.020 11.4 2.1 0.85 11 80 52 1.65

45 18 08/25/07 9:44:00 E Goose Is 51 57.769 128 25.122 13.9 2.1 0.84 14 335 220 6.94

66 12 08/25/07 13:45:00 Stryker Is 52 05.887 128 22.906 26.2 2.1 1.10 22 134 309 5.54

58 26 08/25/07 11:11:00 Mcmullin 52 02.918 128 24.795 15.7 2.1 0.76 18 100 136 2.95

67 17 08/25/07 14:19:00 Stryker Is 52 06.292 128 22.793 19.4 2.1 0.62 28 159 108 3.34

79 22 08/26/07 15:37:00 Bardswell Grp 52 10.874 128 29.008 7.6 2.1 0.32 17 25 15 0.50

78 18 08/26/07 14:56:00 Bardswell Grp 52 09.385 128 29.570 17.1 2.1 0.71 21 170 88 3.23

76 28 08/26/07 14:03:00 Bardswell Grp 52 08.977 128 28.925 10.3 2.1 0.63 13 214 101 3.94

71 20 08/26/07 11:28:00 Thompson Bay 52 08.841 128 24.035 29.8 2.1 1.32 21 425 436 10.76

72 11 08/26/07 12:52:00 Thompson Bay 52 09.807 128 23.530 6.6 2.1 0.28 16 123 165 3.60

68 18 08/26/07 9:49:00 Thompson Bay 52 07.148 128 22.123 13.8 2.1 0.43 27 85 244 4.11

70 22 08/26/07 10:48:00 Thompson Bay 52 09.113 128 22.693 15.6 2.1 0.75 18 373 393 9.58

19 20 08/28/07 13:12:00 Spider Islands 51 50.508 128 14.008 20.7 2.1 0.93 20 106 230 4.20

81 18 08/28/07 13:51:00 Spider Islands 51 51.425 128 14.454 8.7 2.1 0.55 12 29 67 1.20

82 18 08/28/07 14:22:00 Spider Islands 51 51.377 128 12.941 10.9 2.1 0.38 23 432 524 11.95

18 16 08/28/07 11:22:00 Breadner Grp 51 49.187 128 14.995 6.6 2.1 0.16 28 178 94 3.40

83 19 08/28/07 12:40:00 Kittyhawk Grp 51 49.962 128 11.812 15 2.1 1.17 11 124 105 2.86

16 8 08/28/07 10:15:00 Breadner Grp 51 48.545 128 14.025 18.9 2.1 0.70 24 153 119 3.40

17 25 08/28/07 10:43:00 Breadner Grp 51 49.204 128 13.994 33.1 2.1 1.07 29 287 271 6.98

89 12 08/30/07 14:36:00 Tribal Grp 52 04.453 128 19.244 21.8 2.1 0.62 32 194 148 4.28

88 20 08/30/07 13:28:00 Admiral Grp 52 01.312 128 17.277 38.8 2.1 1.08 34 95 116 2.64

85 18 08/30/07 10:28:00 McNaughton Gr 51 56.886 128 12.568 48.7 4.2 0.87 51 143 103 3.08

84 18 08/30/07 9:45:00 McNaughton Gr 51 57.028 128 14.469 43.7 4.2 1.13 35 219 170 4.86

86 11 08/30/07 10:59:00 McNaughton Gr 51 57.508 128 12.254 24.7 2.1 1.33 17 33 23 0.70

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Table 2. Summary Nereocystis field data. [Total number of plants: 396. Overall average is shown at bottom (total weight

of all plants / total number of plants. StDev shown at bottom is StDev of weight of all plants. IS] Transect Depth(ft) Date Time Location Sum of Plant Wt Average of Plant Wt StdDev of Plant Wt

2 11 08/27/07 12:09:00 PM Hakai Pass 12.70 1.41 0.65

4 22 08/27/07 11:05:00 AM Hakai Pass 17.00 1.55 1.25

5 22 08/27/07 10:44:00 AM Hakai Pass 11.80 1.07 0.76

6 11 08/27/07 10:18:00 AM Hakai Pass 18.80 1.88 0.86

8 21 08/27/07 11:24:00 AM Hakai Pass 11.00 1.00 0.72

9 18 08/27/07 11:45:00 AM Hakai Pass 17.80 1.78 1.37

12 33 08/27/07 12:30:00 PM Hakai Pass 32.40 2.03 1.60

13 35 08/27/07 2:43:00 PM Hakai Pass 74.10 2.96 1.20

14 18 08/27/07 2:32:00 PM Hakai Pass 37.50 1.97 0.84

15 19 08/27/07 2:22:00 PM Hakai Pass 9.00 0.69 0.47

21 26 08/24/07 1:01:00 PM Cultus Sound 10.80 0.90 0.45

22 22 08/24/07 2:21:00 PM Cultus Sound 17.80 1.11 0.89

23 26 08/24/07 12:44:00 PM Cultus Sound 7.00 0.54 0.30

27 13 08/24/07 11:30:00 AM Cultus Sound 26.40 1.76 1.24

30 24 08/23/07 10:18:00 AM S Goose Is 63.50 3.74 1.66

33 19 08/23/07 10:53:00 AM S Goose Is 74.30 4.95 2.97

35 25 08/23/07 11:19:00 AM S Goose Is 98.40 4.92 2.57

38 24 08/23/07 3:36:00 PM S Goose Is 17.90 1.12 0.55

40 22 08/23/07 12:52:00 PM W Goose Is 46.40 3.09 2.39

48 19 08/22/07 11:50:00 AM North Goose Is 33.40 1.96 1.44

53 24 08/22/07 2:27:00 PM West Goose Is 34.60 2.16 1.48

59 20 08/25/07 12:02:00 PM McMullin 28.40 2.03 1.46

61 23 08/25/07 12:46:00 PM McMullin 25.30 3.16 1.95

63 25 08/25/07 1:03:00 PM Stryker Is 28.10 2.01 1.61

64 22 08/25/07 1:19:00 PM Stryker Is 12.00 1.20 0.72

65 12 08/25/07 1:31:00 PM Stryker Is 14.40 1.11 0.54

69 12 08/26/07 10:25:00 AM Thompson Bay 8.70 0.87 0.53

75 36 08/26/07 1:34:00 PM Bardswell Grp 26.50 3.31 1.49

87 12 08/30/07 11:34:00 AM Prince Group 15.20 1.27 0.68

Total 831.20 2.10 1.82

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Figure 1. Kelp survey locations, purple triangles are Nereocystis transects and blue dots are Macrocystis transects

APPENDIX III

Kelp maps on Sheets 2 through 10

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Figure1. Index map of survey areas

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Figure 2. Map of the kelp resources in the Bardswell Group Islands with statistical blocks

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Figure 3. Map of the kelp resources in the Cultus Sound Islands with statistical blocks

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Figure 4. Map of the kelp resources in the northern Goose Group Islands with statistical

blocks

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Figure 5. Map of the kelp resources in the southern Goose Group Islands with statistical

blocks

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Figure 6. Map of the kelp resources in the Hakai Passage Islands with statistical blocks

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Figure 7. Map of the kelp resources in the McMullin Group Islands with statistical blocks

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Figure 8. Map of the kelp resources in the Stirling Island area with statistical blocks

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Figure 9. Map of the kelp resources in the northern Thompson Bay area with statistical

blocks and showing the missing air photo coverage

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Figure 10. Map of the kelp resources in the southern Thompson Bay area with statistical

blocks

Documents

KELP INVENTORY 2007 - British Columbia · KELP INVENTORY, 2007 AREAS OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRAL COAST FROM HAKAI PASSAGE TO THE BARDSWELL GROUP Prepared by I. R. Sutherland IEC